By Erica Brecher

An audible “pop,” sudden pain, and I fell to the ground. I tried to throw the ball from centerfield to home plate in my adult rec league game. What I hadn’t considered was that my body was not the same at 27 years old as it was when I still played competitive softball in high school.

I severely injured my knee and needed a diagnosis and treatment quickly. I might have gone to the ER if not for a teammate who recommended Excelsior Express – an in-house urgent care at Excelsior Orthopaedics that specializes in treating breaks, strains, muscles, and joint injuries. That recommendation changed the course of what I might have otherwise experienced and turned a daunting injury into a positive experience.

I was able to get an appointment first thing in the morning. The physician assistant diagnosed a torn ACL and ordered an MRI to confirm it and assess the severity. The MRI was scheduled right after my appointment and took place in the same building. I didn’t need to go anywhere else! Later, I saw Dr. Andrew Stoeckl in the same building, who worked with me to schedule reconstruction surgery next door at Buffalo Surgery Center, Excelsior’s outpatient ambulatory surgery center. I was fitted for my leg brace at Excelsior, and I later completed nearly six months of physical therapy there.

I can’t stress this enough – every part of my journey (except the surgery, which was in the same parking lot next door) happened under one roof. It made everything so much easier, which was a huge relief during such a big, scary injury. The providers were kind and efficient. I felt like I became friends with my physical therapist by the end of therapy, and I never received a confusing third-party bill.

Excelsior Orthopaedics is leading with its comprehensive care model by simplifying the patient journey. During a typical trip to the ER, you’re likely to be referred to an orthopaedic specialist and could end up with multiple bills, which can be confusing and difficult to track.

My positive experience with the Excelsior journey made it so easy for me, years later, to accept a role where I help promote Excelsior Orthopaedics’ brand. My work is genuinely enjoyable because I can speak from experience and stand behind its patient care. Now, I recommend Excelsior Orthopaedics to all my friends. We’re in our mid-thirties, dealing with early aches and pains, and have kids who enjoy jumping off the couch and might break a bone. While I never want to see anyone get hurt, it feels good to advise someone I care about to go to a place I truly believe will give them, or their family, the best treatment.

Erica Brecher is the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Excelsior Orthopaedics. Learn more about Excelsior Express and injury treatment options at excelsiorortho.com.